The upcoming Alberta Football League season will be one of many changes for the Central Alberta Buccaneers, from how the team looks to possibly the on-field product.

During the team’s annual general meeting Saturday night, the team unveiled a new logo, retiring the helmet-clad skull and crossed swords that has been used since the team’s inception in 2000. The new logo, designed by Quinton Warawa, is a bearded pirate in profile.

“We just felt that coming to a new field, a new look would be complementary to that,” said Buccaneers co-chair Vince Roth. “It’s time to freshen things up.”

As for the league, the AFL has now created two divisions after the departure of two teams.

The Buccaneers now find themselves in a three-team division with Fort McMurray and St. Albert, the top three teams from the past few seasons.

In an eight-week season, the Buccaneers will play them twice each. Roth says this should result in closer, more competitive games.

“People who’ve followed us in the past have seen some pretty ugly blowouts happen at our field. We were on the right side of them so that’s O.K. but it’s going to make for a more entertaining football product for our fans,” Roth said.

Their season will be rounded out with a single game against each Division 2 team: Airdrie, Lloydminster, Grande Prairie and the Calgary Wolfpack.

Spring camp starts April 18 in Lacombe, with the team hoping to have a roster of 40 to 50 players. Throughout the season, the team will practice twice a week at MEGlobal Athletic Park in Lacombe.

The season starts on June 2 with a bye week. The first home game will be June 9.